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The times they are a-changin’
April 25, 2011 by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at 12:59 PM
On April 2, we reported on new and newly-expanded school choice programs in the US (see here). Since then, Tennessee has passed a school voucher program. Now comes this article in The Economist reporting on the rapid growth of “academies” (existing schools that convert to autonomous status) in England. And poised to mushroom there are “free schools” (state-funded schools founded by parents or charities). Like the governments in many US states, the English government is determined to expand choice and competition in schools. So much so that the English government may allow for-profit firms to found free schools too….
Well. That gives us some hope! The sooner it happens in Ontario, the better. Even when school choice happens though academic standards don’t improve over night. Alberta’s teenaged students learning fractions shows me that, despite limited choice, in their province better education is moving at a glacial pace… regardless, it is a step in the right direciton. Perhaps improvement in education is moving slowly in Alberta because choice is still quite limited.
I loved being able to shop for schools for my children while living in Asia. We were lucky families, and the children thrived! I want people here to have the same privilege.